A free-roaming bison herd in the Henry Mountains south of Hanksville is dwindling, and a group is trying to raise money to buy out livestock-grazing rights to allow more room for the buffalo.
Officials said the six-year drought has left the bison, the range, livestock and local ranchers in bad shape. The only solution is to remove some of the buffalo or some of the cattle from the land.An "Adopt-a-Bison" program has been launched. But participants won't have to raise one of the shaggy beasts. They will get an adoption certificate for a minimum donation of $25. The money will be used to purchase grazing rights, according to A.B. Johnson, Fillmore, president of the Wild Bison Foundation.
Other options are increasing habitat or reducing animals. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources officials say these are difficult to do.
Some 100 bison were killed through hunting last year in an effort by Wildlife Resources to reduce the herd. It numbered more than 550 animals, considerably more than an agreement made with ranchers when the buffalo were introduced to the area many years ago.
Buffalo were first introduced from Yellowstone National Park into the Burr Desert southeast of Hanksville. But when the beasts were corralled to test them for disease, many plunged through the fences. Some were killed and the remainder migrated into the east side of the Henry Mountains instead of returning to the Burr Desert.
Most of the bison habitat is now on the western slopes of the range.
The Bison Foundation is dedicated to raising funds to purchase the necessary grazing rights to preserve the Henry Mountain bison herd.
The herd roams on lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management.
Stockmen have complained for many years that the herd has expanded far beyond the original agreement and that the buffalo compete heavily for forage that is needed for grazing cattle. But now it appears some of the stockmen are willing to sell their grazing rights, some of which have been in their families for several generations.
Stockmen won't be forced out against their will, said Dale Whipple, Wildlife Resources executive director. He said the goal is to help struggling stockmen as well as the bison.
Some local livestockmen have supported organizing the foundation and pledged to support efforts to save the bison herd.
The project will cost more than $600,000. Johnson said some contributions have been received. A second-grade class in Fillmore donated more than $300 through a Read-a-Thon.
For information call Johnson at 743-5306 or wildlife officials at 466-8806, or write P.O. Box 27846, Salt Lake City, UT 84127.